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Photo: Numbers, 32 & 30, Newton Road in 2012, the site of Arthur Williams' Garage, in the 1930s.
Williams Garage at Newton Road, in the 1930s
Williams Garage at Newton Road, in the 1930s
by Wendy Stiddard
This photo shows Williams’ Garage, Newton Road, Mumbles, which sold the usual petrol products, serviced vehicles, and had Cars for Hire. His daughter, Wendy Stiddard, enjoyed seeing the photo for the first time. She remembered that her mother told her that her father, Arthur, had run the business in the early 1930s, before she was born and that he was a gifted mechanic and ‘he could do anything with a car engine. He was quite well known in Mumbles as he repaired a lot of cars for people at the back of our garden. He was also clever at repairing clocks and watches. Having said that he was still considered an “incomer” as he was from Fforestfach!’
Other members of my family were Uncle Gilbert, who was the brother nearest to my father in age. I don’t know much about him. He and his family moved to Birmingham in the depression, and he worked in the Ford factory there. My father had four brothers, one of whom was killed in the First World War. Another was badly shell-shocked . My uncle Trevor moved up to London and joined the police. My uncle Glyn moved up to Slough and became a successful businessman. Glyn and Trevor were also exceptionally good musicians and played in bands. My uncle Trevor visited us sometimes and played our piano all by ear.
Numbers, 32 & 30, Newton Road in 2012, the site of Arthur Williams' Garage, in the 1930s.
Editors Note: The Garage was next door to the Regent Cinema (In 1984, the building was converted into Castleton Walk Arcade, with a Nightclub upstairs). It occupied the double-fronted premises, which would later be occupied by Harry Davies Greengrocer, Greenslade, the Grocer, followed by Turgoose, also a Grocer. Later, the premises was occupied by Frayne’s the Shoe Shop. Later again, the shop was split into two, each unit being occupied over the years by a series of traders, including a flower shop, Eden, Fashion Jewellry, Cheers, off-licence and a Health Food Store.
The Turgoose Shop Sign is revealed once more
The Turgoose Shop Sign is revealed once more
The Turgoose sign, first reapeared in April 2006, during the fitting a new shop facia..
The Turgoose Shop Sign is revealed again
The Turgoose, Groceries & Provisions sign reappeared again in June 2021, during repairs to the shop shutters of Cheers, off-licence
Newton Road, in the 1950s. The Dance Hall on the left, at 26, Newton Road, was known over the years as: The Casino / Showboat / Tiffany’s / Knuts / Studs / Howard’s / and Bentley’s.
Have we forgotten any?
Castleton Walk Arcade, pictured in 2012, was constructed as The Regent Cinema, opened in July 1927 and converted to a Dance Hall in the 1950s.
The Regent Cinema: 'The Latest and Best,' Opened in July 1927
More of the shops are noted in: Shopping Down The Years >
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